Chronic Fatigue

What is chronic fatigue?

The main symptom Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is extreme fatigue that does not appear to have any explanation. It is exacerbated by the same factors that affect normal fatigue, such as exercise, stress and lack of sleep. Unlike normal fatigue, however, chronic fatigue does not improve with rest.
What makes chronic fatigue so challenging to deal with is that it is difficult to diagnose and treat. There is no test to either confirm it or rule it out. On the contrary, it is often diagnosed through tests that rule out other conditions.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can have some far-reaching impacts. The individual may develop depression, become socially isolated and miss days of work. His or her ability to handle stress can also be affected.

 

Symptoms

In addition to the extreme exhaustion for which the condition is named, chronic fatigue has other symptoms that include the following:

• Impaired memory and trouble concentrating
• Extreme fatigue that lasts for more than a day after exercise, and that does not improve with rest
• Muscle or joint pain that cannot be attributed to injury or to any other medical condition
• Sore throat or enlarged lymph nodes

 

Am I at risk of being affected?

The precise causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are unknown, but studies have shown links with several factors:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome sometimes follows a viral infection, leading scientists to believe that it might be triggered by some viruses
• There appears to be a link between chronic fatigue syndrome and weakened immunity, but it is difficult to tell which is the cause and which is the effect
• Although people with chronic fatigue syndrome sometimes experience hormonal imbalances, research between the link is still ongoing
• People in their forties and fifties are most commonly diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, but people of all ages can be affected
• Women are diagnosed more than men